Hi all,
Well. I have been sitting here at the computer for a few hours, just not sure what to say.
I am really loving this series of articles about dreams changing our narratives in so many ways and on so many layers. I have been thinking about the last few articles about having my own narratives shift and change even in these last few weeks.
Thinking about how I am excited to be exploring the possibility of building community.
And I have been thinking about the narratives and realities that are happening around me, all over the world.
Thinking about how former cop Brett Hankison, who fired shots into Breonna Taylor’s door in 2020, was only sentenced to 33 months in jail. And how the officers that fired the shots that killed Ms.Taylor were never charged with anything. (When they barged into the apartment without announcing themselves, Ms. Taylor’s partner fired at them in self-defense thinking they were intruders, so the police said they were justified in shooting back.)
Thinking about how more detention centers are being opened and the disturbing reports that are coming from them about the treatment of people held there. Kidnapped by ICE agents covering their faces, then held in camps without due process after being detained without due process.
Thinking about all the narratives that are being spun around the Epstein case in order to keep all of the files – including most importantly the financials [follow the money] – out of the public realm. Narratives spun to protect people in power.
Thinking about all of the narratives being spun around what is happening in the middle east. How the genocide in Gaza continues in sickening, brutal ways under the narrative of, well, I don’t even know anymore.
Thinking about what is happening in the Ukraine.
Thinking about how a major network here in the U.S. just cancelled the late night talk show with Stephen Colbert [the one with the highest ratings] with the narrative that it was a “financial decision”. This came three days after a show where he spoke about how the company that owns the network settled a lawsuit with the sitting president and how it was basically a bribe. A bribe so that the company will have a deal okay’d by the government.
Thinking about how many civil rights are continuing to be dismantled in my country that I am not even able to keep up with.
Thinking, how can I even think about the idea of starting a community around dreams? Where is there even space for this?
I have a little writing cadre that I get together with every Monday night, well most Monday nights, to write together and it is often during this time that I write my articles. Tonight, I just sat here, during the whole writing time, not knowing what to say.
When we came back together, I reported this to my writing peeps. And one said, Well, you should just start with that. I said, With what? She said, With the reality that you don’t know what to say.
She was right, of course.
What is there to say in the deluge of narratives that are flooding us from all directions.
What is there to say in the deluge of images we are flooded with of people being abused by people in authority, of people starving and being bombed, of people shouting terrible things at other people. Images of what is happening to the planet in all of this war. How it is being ravaged by narratives that are being spun. I mean, the Lodge at the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon burned in another wildfire.
And.
Saying all of this helps.
And saying all of this helps to circle back to the idea of building community around dreaming.
Because I do know that feeling speechless at all of what we are witnessing is, honestly, an appropriate response.
Because I do know that we can all feel helpless and afraid in times like this.
Because I do know that this is exactly why community is not just important but imperative. Imperative.
Because community is where we learn to not be isolated, where we learn to be in the world in a way that feels right with people who come together to support each other.
Because community based on finding what is true through our dreams is exactly an appropriate response.